If you are here then, unless you have a keen eye, you have been invited, so welcome. Most of this is work in progress. Please feel free to read these articles and comment as you will.
Thank you for your interest.
Notes in red are for Lori Howe regarding the readiness of the articles for her lace bobbin museum.
My bobbin pages.
Here I am keeping text based articles and articles that are not suited for or not ready for the Lace bobbin museum.
In this article I argue that the term baluster for a fancy turned lace bobbin, was coined by antique dealers and is inaccurate. Whilst there are some bobbins that could legitimately be term Baluster, there are not that many and specialist knowledge of turning forms would be need to give a bobbin this description. A better name is "Fancy Turned" bobbins. (see museum)
The Story of the Batavia, its bobbins and its lace. This is a remarkable story of a shipwreck off the West of Australia in the 15th century. If you are interested there is also an interesting page on the copy of the Batavia which visited Australia a couple of years ago. ( see museum)
A Bibliography of books dealing substantially with lace bobbins and lace bobbin making. It id pretty well complete. I think I have a few more entries to put into it. ( see museum)
A Brief review of English Lace Bobbins and their History. This article is just what the title suggests. It needs revision and the illustrations added. I have got a few things wrong! (Not ready)
Identification of lace bobbins. You will need a password to enter this page as it is essentially a study page and draws heavily on published material for which I do not have the copyright permission. I developed this page and system of identifying makers of antique English Lace Bobbins as an exercise and it seems to work. Basically it is for my use only, but I think perhaps about three people have the password.
Lace Bobbin Repairs. This is a review of repairing techniques found in antique lace bobbins. (see museum)
Lace Makers celebrations and Festivals. A Light hearted romp through the year of the lace makers and there customs and beliefs.( see museum)
Difficulties in the classification of Church Window Bobbins. Historically a group of bobbins had the generic name of "church windows". There is some confusion in the literature and I have had a go at trying to sort it out. (ready for downloading)
The Cow in Calf and Jack-in-the-box conundrum. Here is another problem of names given to a genre of bobbins. (ready for downloading)
Cryptic Inscriptions on Lace Bobbins. Did you know the makers sometimes used code in their inscribed bobbins. Have a go at solving some of them. (Ready to download)
East Devon Bobbins. This is probably the most unique of my articles as so little has been written about them. I think they have been neglected in favour of the "more pretty" spangled East Midland bobbins. (Not yet completed)
Will the real Lace Makers Lamp please stand up! This examines the problem of what antique dealers call lace makers lamps and what I think should be called lace makers lamps. Ready for you to download.
Towards a Standard Nomenclature for Antique English Lace Bobbins. A look at the difficulties in naming antique English lace bobbins and suggestions for standardising their names. (Needs illustrating)
Non East Midland English Lace Bobbins. A look at the "other" regions bobbins, (Excluding East Devon Bobbins) (ready for downloading)
South Bucks Bobbins. This article proposes a standard nomenclature for these interesting bobbins. (see museum)
Pewter Degradation in Antique Lace Bobbins.The pewter decoration of lace bobbins and a slightly more detailed article makes an attempt to explain the physical properties of pewter and why it degrades. It also spends a little time looking at the issue of Arthritis and lace makers. (Ready for download. Please note that there are two articles in this web folder)
Antique pins used in lace making. A look at the various pins, their names and their function in olden times. (Ready for download)
Square Lace Bobbins. They are older than you think! ( OK for downloading)
What is it made of? A look at the various tests that you might want to try to ascertain what your bobbins, shuttle, fabric etc, is made from. (This article is OK if you want to have it. All references are cited and would pass the 10% copyright test)
English Antique Lace Bobbin Values. About a year old at the moment (Jan 2002) (Could be downloaded if you want it)
First Words. A look at the earliest use of words associated with lace bobbins and lace making. (OK to download)
Bones as Bobbins, Fish Bones as Pins? A brief discussion on the available evidence as to the speculation that bones were used first as bobbins, and fish bones used as pins. (I have re-looked at this article. I know it does not have any illustrations but it does look at the available evidence for these things. I suppose we need to get a couple of chicken bones and fish bones and put them on a pillow! That is if we want the article to be illustrated. I think its OK to download if you like.)
East Midland Bobbins and their possible origins? A discussion on the possible origins of the "slim" East Midland bobbins as opposed to the "bulbous " continental bobbin. It includes comments on the possible reasons for spangling east midland bobbins. It is essentially a discussion paper. (A better article. I have something a bit better to write on the origin of spangling in the next few months, but it will still use these basic articles. I have discovered some pre and post spangled bobbins by a well known maker that warrants discussion. I have pictures of them too. You can have this as it is if you want it.)
Axel Horlen. (A translation) A most interesting article lace equipment in Scandinavia. It has real application to the development of our lace bobbins too. ( Pictures are poor, but the text is very interesting. I do not think i will be doing anything more to this, so you may have it. I have permission to publish this on the web from the translator.)
Franz Muller. This is a narrative essay based on facts of the Murder of Robert Briggs by Franz Muller. He is one of the murderers who are memorialised on lace bobbins. See museum
Unique names for bobbins in the Olney Museum. An article discussing the local names of bobbins that are found in the Olney Museum. OK for downloading if you want it.
Booklet. Jonathon Page
